Purge systems

ABSTRACT

Covers a hot water heating system employing a purge valve structure and other structural components which are affixed to each other and to the boiler system. The purge valve structure includes a slide valve mechanism which may be locked and sealed in its normal or open position and, when locked, the accidental closure of the purge valve structure is rendered impossible. To close the purge valve structure when the purging operation is to be performed, a handle affixed to the stem of the valve must first be released from its locked open position and, upon the release of the handle, the valve stem may be pushed to the closed position. When the valve is thus closed, the boiler and the hot water system may be purged and thereafter filled with water for the normal operation of the system. The purge valve structure provides a seat for the pump (sometimes called a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;circulator&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;), and it provides a housing for a drain valve and for a fill valve. The purge valve structure and these several components may be assembled at the factory and shipped along with the boiler as a package so that they may be easily installed at the building where they are to be operated. The purging operation is performed with water flowing upwardly through the boiler and then through the rest of the hot water system. The water path for purging is in the same direction as is taken by the water when the system is providing normal heating service. The removal of air from the entire system is virtually perfect.

United States Patent Crooks Robert G.

ABSTRACT: Covers a hot water heating system employing a purge valve structure and other structural components which are affixed to each other and to the boiler system. The purge valve structure includes a slide valve mechanism which may be locked and sealed in its normal or open position and, when locked, the accidental closure of the purge valve structure is rendered impossible. To close the purge valve structure when the purging operation is to be performed, a handle affixed to the stem of the valve must first be released from its locked open position and, upon the release of the handle, the valve stem may be pushed to the closed position. When the valve is thus closed, the boiler and the hot water system may be purged and thereafter filled with water for the normal operation of the system. The purge valve structure provides a seat for the pump (sometimes called a circulator"), and it provides a housing for a drain valve and for a fill valve. The purge valve structure and these several components may be assembled at the factory and shipped along with the boiler as a package so that they may be easily installed at the building where they are to be operated.

The purging operation is performed with water flowing upwardly through the boiler and then through the rest of the hot water system. The water path for purging is in the same direction as is taken by the water when the system is providing normal heating service. The removal of air from the entire system is virtually perfect.

TO WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM PATENTEU m1 man SHEET 1 BF 2 MDV R X TR 1 C W MA m M H VM /M G P m E w \m N P S M N W E G 7 G P v 4 P B A I WM 2 W F W w. P P U 8 RM. WE Mm S O T ATTORNEY msmmmm EJ627203 sum 2 OF 2 DVH PGH

To Expansion BVs Tonk XT BVST BVE INVENTOR.

ALLAN E. MARTIN BY C W ATTORNEY This invention relates to hot water heating systems and especially to improved constructions of hot water heating systems. More especially, this invention relates to a unitary assembly for a boiler system including, as part of the boiler overall assembly, the purge valve structure, the drain valve and the fill valve. The purge valve structure provides a seat on which the pump is mounted. The drain and fill valves are in corporated into the overall purge valve structure.

In accordance with the present invention, a simplified purge valve structure is affixed, or is to be afiixed, to the boiler proper. The simplified structure, as noted, will include the purge valve structure, the drain valve, the till valve, and the pump which is seated on the purge valve structure. Such an assembly will simplify and improve the installation and operation of the hot water system, removing a considerable number of fluid connections usually provided in conventional systems for interconnecting the boiler with these components. This will reduce the time required to install and test the system; it will also reduce the cost of the equipment as well as the cost of making the installation.

This invention, together with its principal objects and features, will be better and more clearly understood from the more detailed description and explanation hereinafter following, when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a cross-sectional view of a hot water heating system of this invention and of the main elements employed in carrying out this invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the purge-fitting assembly used in this invention;

FIG. 3 represents a top plan view of the purge fitting of MG. 2; and

FIG. ll shows another cross-sectional view of the purge fitting of this invention, illustrating the purge valve structure in a modified arrangement according to this invention.

Throughout the drawing, the same or similar reference characters will be employed to illustrate the same or similar parts wherever they may occur throughout the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, especially referring to FIG. ll of the drawing, a hot water heating system is schematically shown comprising a boiler BL which may be, for example, a boiler of the general type shown and described in US. Pat. No. 3,165,092, assigned to the assignee of this invention, together with a series of zones ll, 22 and Z3, each of which may include one or more radiator units and auxiliary equipment, a circulator or pump PM, a purge valve structure PG, a drain valve DV, and a fill valve PV. The fill valve FV may be connected to the water supply system, which may be, for example, the local or city water supply system. Of course, a single zone may be employed in connection with this invention.

As is indicated schematically in the drawing, the boiler BL is provided with a plurality of conventional heat exchangers HX which may be suitable arrangements of pipes or other conduits connected within the boiler BL in any known manner, that is, in series with each other or in parallel with each other, and the water flowing through the conduits of the heat exchangers llilX will be heated by combustion gases produced by oil or gas within the combustion chamber of the boiler BL, so that heated water developed by the heat exchangers l-lX may be fed to the zones Zl to Z3 for the usual heating purposes, as will be further explained. The boiler BL may, if desired, include a conventional manual drain valve MlDV to release water from the boiler BL whenever desired for cleaning or other purposes, a meter MT for indicating and observing the temperature, or the pressure, or both, within the boiler BL, a conventional relief valve RV, and a conventional air vent valve AV.

The heated water supplied by the boiler BL may be transmitted through the several zones 211, 2%, and Z3 shown in parallel with each other for illustration. One or more other zones may be added in parallel with the several zones Zll, Z2 and 23. These several zones may embrace, for example, conventional hot water radiators which receive the hot water received from boiler BL and serve to heat the premises. The conduits interconnecting the several zones are also connected to the circulator or pump PM which is seated on the mounting of the purge valve structure PG (as shown). The pump PM may be of any well-known type, serving to circulate water received from the zones Zll to 23 either through the drain valve 10V or through the main conduit MIC of the purge valve PG, and then baclt to the boiler BL, as will be further described.

The mounting or housing assembly of the purge valve structure PG integrally embraces the drain valve lDV which may be manually controlled by a handle DVl-Il of any wellknown type. When the handle lDVlH is turned to close the drain valve, water may not be discharged through the drain valve DV but, when the drain valve is opened, water transmitted through the circulator PM may be discharged through the drain valve DV and out of the hot water system. in addition to the drain valve DV, the mounting or housing assembly of the purge valve structure PG also integrally includes the fill valve FV. The fill valve may be connected to the water supply system WS, as indicated, so that water may be received from the supply system WS whenever desired by operation of the manual valve MV.

The purge valve structure PG includes a stem PGS, a handle PGlHl and a nut PGN bearing a threaded member PGT. The screw-threaded section of the nut PGN may be inserted into the female-threaded section of the housing of the purge valve structure PG as shown. The purge valve structure PG also includes a movable tapered valve element PGE which can be moved upwardly into a position where it may be flush against the tapered seat PGST in the mounting or housing of the purge valve structure PG, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 1. The dotted line representation of the valve element PGE in FIG. ll represents the position of that element when the system is to be purged.

it will be observed that the purge valve structure PG is assembled and mounted on a side of the boiler BL and that the purge valve structure PG is the center or base of the abovelisted group of added elements which are affixed as an integral unit to the boiler BL. These elements have already been mentioned as including the pump PM, the drain valve DV, and the fill valve FV. This unitary structure may be assembled at the factory and installed on a side of boiler BL before it is shipped.

When the purge valve PG is open, the valve element PGE will be in its lower position, as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1, closely adjacent to the threaded section PGT of the housing. On the other hand, when the purge valve PG is closed, the valve element PGE will be in its uppermost position, as shown by the solid lines of FIG. l, and element PGE may be positioned against the valve seat PGST. The hot water system may then be purged, as will now be explained.

When it is desired to purge the hot water system, as is usually done when all the components are installed and assembled in a building as is schematically indicated in FIG. ll, the purge valve structure PG will be moved to its closed position and the drain valve DV will be opened. Upon opening the manual water inlet valve MV, water will be supplied from the supply source WS through the fill valve PV and over the main channel MC between the valve element PGE and the threaded member PGT into the boiler BL. The incoming water will then travel through the heat exchangers l-llX of boiler BL, then through the radiators in the zones Zll to Z3, then through the circulator PM and out through the drain valve DV. The flow of water over this path through the drain valve DV will drive the air in the heat exchangers HX and the air throughout the rest of the system ahead of the oncoming water, and the air and water will both be expelled through the drain valve DV. By connecting the drain valve DV to a garden hose the end of which is held under water in a bucket, for example, the discharged air will be observed as bubbles. When the bubbles disappear, the removal and exhaustion of air from the interconnected water system will be completed. The entire water system may now be readied for the usual heating purposes.

rnrnlA To ready the system for heating purposes, the drain valve DV will be closed. Water will again-flow from the supply system WS, through the same main channel MC between the valve element PGE and the threaded member PGT of the purge valve structure PG, then through the heat exchangers HX of the boiler BL, through the radiators of the several zones Z! to 23, then through the pump PM and back to the closed drain valve DV. The water will continue to flow in the same direction in this same path and will build up in pressure. This will be continued until the water pressure has been raised to a predetermined level, such as 15 p.s.i. The water pressure within the boiler BL can be observed at meter MT which is connected to the water passages of boiler BL. When this predetermined pressure has been reached, the manual valve MV will be closed to stop the inflow of water and the purge valve PG will then be opened, thereby returning the purge valve element P615 to its lower position. Water will now circulate between the pump PM, the heat exchangers HX of the boiler BL and the radiators of zones Z1 to 23 in continuous and repeated cycles. Thus the boiler BL and the hot water system will be operated continuously thereafter to supply hot water to the several zones under control of a conventional thermostat (not shown).

' The air vent valve AV at the top of the boiler BL is provided to release excessive air that may be present in the water passages within the boiler BL. The relief valve RV is provided to release at a predetennined pressure within the boiler BL, for example, l5 p.s.i., thereby preventing any unnecessary or undesired rise in the pressure level of the air or the water within the boiler BL. Thus, the boiler BL will be protected against unusual or dangerous air or water pressures. The meter MT may be a conventional instrument having two pointers and two indicating scales for separately observing the temperature and the pressure of the boiler water.

When the purge valve PG is to be opened, it can be locked only in the open position, that is, with the valve element PGE in its lowermost position as is clearly shown in FIG. 2. In the latter or lowermost position, the stem PGS of the purge valve PG will be withdrawn by having been slid downwardly and, in this lowered position, the handle PGH may be rotated about its pivot or axis PGX to have the handle PGH overhang and overlap the stem PGS as shown in FIG. 2. In the latter position, the handle PGH will be locked. A gasket may be included with the valve stem to seal the purge valve against leakage. It will be impossible for the purge valve structure PG to be closed unless the handle is first released. The purge valve structure PG can, therefore, be closed only by first disengaging the handle PGH from its position overlying stem PGS, as shown in FIG. 2, and then after the handle PGI-l is rotated so as not to overlie the stem PGS (see FIG. 4), the stem PGS may be slid upwardly to return the valve element PGE against the tapered seat PGST to close the purge valve. This latter position is used for the purging cycle.

According to this invention, the water supplied to the boiler BL and to the rest of the system for purging the system can only flow unidirectionally in the path through the heat exchangers HX of boiler BL, the zone radiators 21 to Z3 and the pump PM and out through the drain valve DV. The circulator circulator need not be operated for the purging function. However, if the circulator is operated during the purging cycle, it will increase the driving force in the same unidirectional path to more efi'ectively eliminate air that may have accumulated anywhere throughout the system. After the system has been purged and is put in service for supplying heated water to the zonal radiators, the water flow path will be maintained in the same direction. The path will include, as already suggested, the heat exchangers HX, the zonal radiators, the pump PM and back through the main conduit MC of the purge valve structure PG which connects to the boiler BL. The water, which is pressurized by the pump PM, will flow through the same unidirectional path again and again for long periods of time.

One of the main features of this invention isthe provision of a simple purge system which is provided as an adjunct of the boiler and is arranged so that water flowing through the heat exchangers and the zone radiators will always be in the same direction and confined to the same general fluid path, whether for purging purposes or for heating purposes. This arrangement is in contrast to the purging system shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,453, issued Oct. 14, 1969, to M. R. Markland et al., assigned to the same assignee as the present application, where the purge flow direction is opposite to the nonpurge flow direction. By maintaining the same flow direction for both purging and nonpurging functions, air in the system can be removed rapidly and completely. Where'the flow directions for purging and nonpurging operations are opposite to each other, the system will hardly be completely purged of the enclosed air. This will materially reduce the efficiency of the system and also render it more costly to operate.

The purging operation is accomplished with the purge valve structure PG closed, as already noted, so that incoming water supplied to the purge valve structure PG will flow upwardly through the boiler BL, and not downwardly through the boiler. By this upward waterflow, air previously enclosed within the boiler will be driven completely out of the boiler, ahead of the oncoming water. Substantially no air will remain within the water passages of the boiler. This virtually complete removal of the air-so important for good service-cannot be accomplished effectively by any arrangement in which the water used for purging purposes flows in the opposite direction. It becomes difficultby employing downwardly directed waterto remove air pockets from the boiler.

Thus, the unitary purge valve assembly of this invention can provide, as a unitary adjunct of the boiler BL, substantially all of the necessary components of the boiler BL required inthe overall system, both for purging and nonpurging functions. The boiler assembly is readily installed on the premises of a building with very little labor and, when installed, it is simple to operate and maintain. The fill valve may, if desired, be separately removable and replaceable from the composite package.

In the modified arrangement of FIG. 4, the pump PM is shown, as in FIG. 1, seated atop the purge valve PG, while the fill valve FV is connected to one of the openings of the balltype valve BV. The fill valve is connected to the water supply system WS. Another opening in valve BV is connected to an expansion tank XT. The ball-type valve element BVE of valve BV is biased by a coil spring BVS against the seat BVST of the ball valve BV.

The pressure of the water in the supply system WS, if sufficient, will overcome the pressure of spring BVS and allow water to flow to the purge valve structure PG and to the expansion tank XT, thereby filling up the water-heating system.

Except for the structural changes indicated in FIG. 4, this arrangement operates in the same manner as FIG. 1 both for purging and water-heating purposes.

While this invention and its features shown and described in certain particular embodiments for illustration and explanation, it will be understood that the features of this invention may be applied to other and widely varied organizations for the practice of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for purging a hot water heating system having a boiler for supplying hot water to the system, comprising a purge valve affixed to the boiler, and directly connected to the boiler to pass the incoming water directed toward the boiler, a drain valve coupled to the purge valve by a common passage, a circulator to receive the water to be returned from the boiler and to pass the returned water to said common passage, said purge valve, when closed, and said drain valve, when opened, together providing a path for the incoming water to travel directly to the boiler to drive air out of the water passages of the boiler and out through the drain valve, the purge valve being opened and said drain valve being closed after the air has been purged from the system so that the boiler may be operated for heating the incoming water.

HIIOIA "71a 2. A hot water heating system comprising a boiler having an inlet terminal and an outlet terminal, a circulator, a hot water utilization device interconnecting the outlet terminal of the boiler and the inlet terminal of the circulator, a purge valve which may interconnect the outlet terminal of the circulator with the inlet terminal of the boiler, said purge valve having two paths, one path of the purge valve being provided to allow water to be supplied to the inlet terminal oi" the boiler for purging air from the boiler and driving the purged air through the utilization device and the circulator, the other path of the purge valve feeding water from the outlet terminal of the circulator into the inlet terminal of the boiler.

3. A hot water heating system according to claim 2, including a drain valve formed integrally with the purge valve and openable to discharge the purged air and the water used in the purging operation.

4. A hot water heating system according to claim 3. including means for preventing the discharge of water through the drain valve after the purging operation has been completed, said means including means for preventing the disconnection of the water path between the outlet terminal of the circulator and the inlet terminal of the boiler.

5. A hot water heating system comprising a boiler having inlet and outlet terminals, a circulator having inlet and outlet terminals, a hot water utilization device interconnecting the outlet terminal of the boiler with the inlet terminal of the circulator, and a purge valve having three terminals, one of the terminals of the purge valve being connected to the inlet terminal of the boiler to supply water thereto when the system is to be purged of air while the other two terminals of the purge valve are connected to the outlet terminal of the circulator to discharge the incoming water and the purged air from the system, the first terminal and one of the other two terminals of the purge valve being connected to each other after the purging operation has been completed to provide a continuous water path between the outlet terminal of the circulator and the inlet terminal of the boiler.

s. A hot water heating system according to claim 5, in which the purge valve is connected to the water path through the boiler both during the purging operation and after the purging operation has been completed so that. water can flow only in one direction through the boiler.

7. A hot water heating system according to claim 5, including a drain valve and a fill valve both integrally mounted on the purge valve so that water for the purging operation may be received through the till valve and water used in the purging operation and the purged air may be discharged through the drain valve.

h. A hot water heating system according to claim 7, in which the circulator is also integrally mounted on the purge valve and its impeller directs water only in the path leading to the purge valve. 

1. Apparatus for purging a hot water heating system having a boiler for supplying hot water to the system, comprising a purge valve affixed to the boiler, and directly connected to the boiler to pass the incoming water directed toward the boiler, a drain valve coupled to the purge valve by a common passage, a circulator to receive the water to be returned from the boiler and to pass the returned water to said common passage, said purge valve, when closed, and said drain valve, when opened, together providing a path for the incoming water to travel directly to the boiler to drive air out of the water passages of the boiler and out through the drain valve, the purge valve being opened and said drain valve being closed after the air has been purged from the system so that the boiler may be operated for heating the incoming water.
 2. A hot water heating system comprising a boiler having an inlet terminal and an outlet terminal, a circulator, a hot water utilization device interconnecting the outlet terminal of the boiler and the inlet terminal of the circulator, a purge valve which may interconnect the outlet terminal of the circulator with the inlet terminal of the boiler, said purge valve having two paths, one path of the purge valve being provided to allow water to be supplied to the inlet terminal of the boiler for purging air from the boiler and driving the purged air through the utilization device and the circulator, the other path of the purge valve feeding water from the outlet terminal of the circulator into the inlet terminal of the boiler.
 3. A hot water heating system according to claim 2, including a drain valve formed integrally with the purge valve and openable to discharge the purged air and the water used in the purging operation.
 4. A hot water heating system according to claim 3, including means for preventing the discharge of water through the drain valve after the purging operation has been completed, said means including means for preventing the disconnection of the water path between the outlet terminal of the circulator and the inlet terminal of the boiler.
 5. A hot water heating system comprising a boiler having inlet and outlet terminals, a circulator having inlet and outlet terminals, a hot water utilization device interconnecting the outlet terminal of the boiler with the inlet terminal of the circulator, and a purge valve having three terminals, one of the terminals of the purge valve being connected to the inlet terminal of the boiler to supply water thereto when the system is to be purged of air while the other two terminals of the purge valve are connected to the outlet terminal of the circulator to discharge the incoming water and the purged air from the system, the first terminal and one of the other two terminals of the purge valve being connected to each other after the purging operation has been completed to provide a continuous water path between the outlet terminal of the circulator and the inlet terminal of the boiler.
 6. A hot water heating system according to claim 5, in which the purge valve is connected to the water path through the boiler both during the purging operation and after the purging operation has been completed so that water can flow only in one direction through the boiler.
 7. A hot water heating system according to claim 5, including a drain valve and a fill valve both integrally mounted on the purge valve so that water for the purging operation may be received through the fill valve and water used in the purging operation and the purged air may be discharged through the drain valve.
 8. A hot water heating system according to claim 7, in which the circulator is also integrally mounted on the purge valve and its impeller directs water only in the path leading to the purge valve. 